TONY PARKER BUYS A BASKETBALL TEAM: San Antonio Spur purchases second largest share of French squad and takes executive gig.
San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker has just purchased the second largest share of France's most led professional basketball team and will begin serving immediately as the club's Director of Operations, according to People.com.
During an interview that aired on France's Infosport cable network, the 26-year-old also said he will expand his current Tony Parker Basketball Clinic operations around ASVEL's home base in Villeurbane, a Lyons suburb, citing another celebrity athlete as model. "I'd like to center them as a training center in Lyons, something like David Beckham's [soccer program]."
When asked if he would consider playing for his French club, he answered, "Why not, why not ? When I'm 36, 37 years old, who knows how my NBA will go. Why not play one more farewell year in France afterwards? I've raised the subject with Eva, and she has nothing against living in France."
Parker, whose contract with San Antonio runs until 2011, said he has long planned to "invest in a club, to take part in one after my playing days," reports People.com.
I saw the complete interview.
TP wants to build a team wich could be a candidate for a franchise in the NBA Europe in 10 years and whose model would be... the spurs.
He's gonna create an academy with Nike and the french federation (a mini INSEP for those who knows what it is).
He talked with RC about his new attributions and RC told him he could use spurs scouts.
As I mentioned earlier, I think there could be strong connexions between SA and ASVEL.
Go ASVEL éperons !
didn't see posted a complete tp interview regarding his projects with l'asvel, the asg and the game against GSW.
Tony, when did you first speak with the people at ASVEL ?
About a year ago I was approached by various clubs in France. Talks were initiated with Rouen, Lille and ASVEL. Following careful review my choice lead towards Villeurbanne. The team’s key personnel came to see me in mid-January in San Antonio and it is then that we’ve decided to work together.
Why choose ASVEL ?
I’ve analyzed the various possibilities. I knew ASVEL’s project since my visit during the NBA Europe Live in 2006. The team has strong foundations and it is a good mix between tradition and modernity. What is truly exciting is that there are still a lot to do. I like challenges and the challenges ahead with ASVEL are good.
You had already invested with Paris Basket Racing but the outcome was not what you had expected…
You cannot compare. In Villeurbanne there is already a complete structure with a solid project. I am coming with the idea to accompany this project because we share the same visions and values. These are two forces that need to be united. I will work closely with the team’s management and in particular with Pierre Grall who has built the team with the coach, Vincent Collet.
Why invest in a club while you are only in the midst of your career ?
It is a project that I always had in me; managing a club and if possible in France in order to give back to basketball what it has given me. Villeurbanne has been the key club in France for a number of years and this club has a history. As the will to grow is there this is moment ot invest and to launch myself in this great adventure.
What are your goals ?
Over the long term it is to build one of the best club in Europe. We know that it will take some time but I am used to follow road maps and to stick to them. It is hard to compete with other European clubs with bigger financial means; thinking about Greeks and Russian team for example. Of course we will not be able to play head to head with them at the beginning but we are various ideas to perform well on the sporting side.
What are some of the ideas ?
We will develop the Tony Parker Academy. A large training facility will be launched in the Fall of 2010. This facility will include the pro team and the young players from the training academy. We are now conscious that the best European players have high salary expectancies. In order to face this we wish to rely on training new talents. France is an example of this and we won’t cut this out of the project.
What are some of the key priorities now ?
To get the best results possible from this year on but we must prepare the future like closing on the new area for the resident team and the Euroleague licence. We cannot imagine for one second that these two projects won’t come to life. We thus have to work now on building a team that can aim at the Euroleague Top 16 as early as next season.
Can you talk about the Euroleague license, synonymous with qualifying for the most important European compe ion ?
If the Euroleague President, Jordi Bertomeu, is now being tentative about French basketball it is for the second licence in France that shall be given on sporting criterias (the French league champion is automatically qualified for the compe ion). ASVEL is now a candidate for this wild-card and has a strong case. I am confident.
A new stadium is in the works.
Gilles Moretton (ASVEL’s president) and Antony Thiodet (VP) are following this closely. I see no reason why we could not have in France the facilities that you can see everywhere in Europe. France deserves this arena.
How much have you invested in ASVEL ?
I do not wish to go into details but I can tell that I also have an option to take the majority of the club and to become its president. This is no in the news today and I have the opportunity to start with Gilles Moretton and Antony Thiodet who both have a great experience at this level. I thus wish to learn at their side prior to taking more responsibilities.
Tony Parker playing for ASVEL; is this a possibility ?
It can happen. At the end of my NBA career I could very well play on more year at the highest level with ASVEL. I will be happy to end my career in France, in front of my fans. It will be a nice going out party. We’ve discussed this with Eva (Longoria Parker, his wife) and she won’t be against living in France for a year. We are far from this today as I still have ten years to play in the NBA.
Parker is now majority shareholder of ASVEL and will make himself President of Basketball Operations.
http://projectspurs.com/2014-article...eam-asvel.html
TP is going to take a page or two from the Spurs to run his own team. Guess it is funny to be an employee on a team while being the owner of another one.
Maybe 5-10 years from now Asvel becomes part of NBA Europe...
I'm glad to see France embracing the basketball thing, I hope it grows and grows in popularity, I'd love to watch some serious compe ion in Europe
Parker is now the President of ASVEL
Marc J. Spears Verified account @MarcJSpearsESPN
Tony Parker and Corey Maggette celebrate their first le as @ASVEL_Basket owners.
Spurs star @tonyparker, owner of French League champ @ASVEL_Basket, talked about his NBA dreams with @TheUndefeated.
https://t.co/ZzmRyvSrmd
Tony Parker and Corey Maggette celebrate their first le as @ASVEL_Basket owners.
Spurs star @tonyparker, owner of French League champ @ASVEL_Basket, talked about his NBA dreams with @TheUndefeated.
https://t.co/ZzmRyvSrmd
This will give TP the confidence to do the one thing that has eluded him his career... be League MVP
Like Gervin went to Europe to win a chip.
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